WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE GARBAGE?
Philippians 3:1-9
What’s the basis of true spiritual living?
Is it about trying to be good enough?
Basilica de Guadalupe–annual pilgrimage, people crawl for miles to gain points that will somehow make them acceptable to God.
In other parts of the world people make pilgrimages to Mecca, or to wash themselves in the Ganges River.
People try going through religious processions, giving alms to the poor, or doing other good deeds, in hopes of making it with God.
In Paul’s day, it was the religious rituals of the Pharisees, and the imitation of those rituals proposed by the Judaizers.
Is that what true spiritual living is about? Is it about being good enough to make it with God?
Or, is it about God’s work in us?
Many people today still believe that true spiritual living is about us doing our best to live by the rules and becoming good enough to be acceptable to God.
In Philippians 3, Paul responds to the people of his day who were seeking to please God by living by the rules.
The ideal church!
* Endured suffering * Doctrinally sound * Generous givers
Nevertheless, two problems are revealed in the letter.
First, they are discouraged.
Everything seems to be going wrong!
Second, they are divided–especially because of the conflict between the Jewish legalists and Gentile converts from paganism.
Purpose and theme
The two problems lead to the two major purposes of the letter:
1. Paul wants to encourage them in the midst of their affliction.
Therefore he writes concerning joy.
2. Second he wants to resolve the conflicts between them.
Therefore he emphasizes unity.
REPORT CONCERNING IMPRISONMENT 1:12-26
In order to encourage them, Paul tells them about his situation in prison.
What has discouraged them doesn’t discourage him!
God is at work.
The gospel is spreading.
People are trusting Christ.
That’s cause to REJOICE!
EXHORTATIONS TO UNITY 1:27-2:18
In order to unite them, Paul gives five imperatives which call us to act like a family.
He urges us to stand together in unity.
REPORT CONCERNING THEIR MINISTERS 2:19-30
He reminds them of the examples they have personally observed.
The example of three godly leaders demonstrates what genuine care and concern for one another ought to look like.
They give up their rights and make great sacrifices, seeking the welfare of others.
We should imitate their example!
INSTRUCTION CONCERNING TRUE SPIRITUALITY 3:1-21
The Judaizers are at work, creating problems at Philippi.
3 Kinds-
1) Salvation-For whom? Acts 10-11
2) Salvation-How? Acts 15
3) Sanctification-How? Galatians, Colossians, Philippians 3
They keep preaching that spirituality is achieved by living by the rules (keeping the Mosaic law).
They codified Moses’ law into 365 negative commands (one for every day of the week!) And 250 positive commands.
They missed the point that God is more concerned about what’s on the inside, than in legalistic rules!
God boiled it down to two:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
The focus isn’t on legalism–it’s on the attitude on the inside!
Do we become spiritual . . .
. . . by living by the rules?
. . . by keeping the law?
Is that how we become spiritual?
Paul’s instruction focuses on the nature of true spirituality.
[He begins with a summary statement of what he’s about to emphasize in chapter 3:]
3:1a REJOICE IN THE LORD!
The theme of our celebration is GOD and what HE has done–“Rejoice in the Lord!”
As he addresses the problem of the Judaizers, He is dealing with a system that sets Christ aside and places the focus on US.
He reminds us that genuine spiritual living isn’t about US; it’s about CHRIST!
Our rejoicing isn’t in ourselves.
Our rejoicing isn’t in the faithful men he has just described.
Our rejoicing isn’t in our circumstances.
Our rejoicing is in THE LORD!–He’s the One who provides a cause for celebration–even in the hard times!
We don’t celebrate because we’ve arrived!
We celebrate because of what HE has done!
[In contrast with this summary, Paul continues to warn them of the danger posed by the Judaizers and their doctrine.]
They want to take our focus off Jesus and what He has done.
They want us to focus on ourselves; on OUR efforts to live by the rules.
WARNING AGAINST LEGALISTS 3:1b-2
Not complimentary
His language gets pretty strong! 3:1b-2
[Paul contrasts the Judaizers' view of spirituality with a biblical view of spirituality.] 3:3
CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUE SPIRITUALITY 3:3
Here’s what true circumcision is like. It’s about . . .
Serving God by the Spirit -NOT by the letter of the law
Those who are spiritual serve God in spirit, not by the letter.
It’s not the result of a legalistic attempt to live by the rules and be good enough to make God happy.
True spirituality is produced by the Holy Spirit at work in us.
Boasting in Christ -and what HE has done
-NOT in ourselves and what we do.
We get excited about what Christ has done for us-NOT our accomplishments.
Not trusting our own efforts–Not Confiding in the flesh
True spirituality understands that we can't trust our efforts to produce fruit pleasing to God.
CAPACITY TO TRUST THE FLESH 3:4-6 This isn’t just “sour grapes!”
Paul isn’t speaking as an outsider
who is jealous of their accomplishments.
If anyone could boast of his performance, Paul could.
Yet, he realizes his own weakness (failures).
-He could never satisfy God this way!
ATTITUDE CONCERNING ACCOMPLISHMENTS 3:7-9
He leaves everything behind and considers them as garbage (leftovers), to gain the best.
Paul's loss 3:7-9
He considers his achievements to be worthless
compared with Jesus' righteousness applied to his account.
Bookkeeping concept-profit and loss statement-
My "profits" (2x) I "account for" (3x) as "losses" (3x)
All of his great achievements end up on the wrong side of the ledger!
They’re all negative!
This isn’t illogical accounting-he has a purpose.
He knows his business.
He has a higher category of assets!
They make these assets meaningless.
These less productive assets get in the way of making higher "profits"
Ex. $800/oz. Gold
They drag down the total picture.
Ill. –They’re like eating left overs–
The old ones are still considered "assets"-NOT liabilities!
The things that used to be of value-the old assets-have lost their value-the earthquake.
Their previous value has been lost.
What are Paul's most significant assets?
Paul doesn’t replace one religious system, and its achievements, with another religious system.
He has no new religious accomplishments to present.
He lost his religion and his reputation–but he has something far better:
(1) To gain Christ 3:7-8
(2) To be righteous in Christ 3:9
Inadequate righteousness-"Not having . . ."
Source: It’s my own righteousness.
Basis: It’s based on keeping the law.
Results: This kind of righteousness won’t “make it!”
Totally adequate righteousness–sufficient–the kind that’s of real value.
Source: It’s God's righteousness.
Basis: It’s based on faith in Christ
Results:This kind of righteousness leads to life.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR US TODAY?
If Paul’s accomplishments aren’t good enough to make it,
how can WE hope to make it with God?
If anyone could have made it, surely Paul could!
He knew better than to trust his own efforts.
We need God’s righteousness;
the kind that comes from trusting Christ.
True spirituality isn’t the result of our efforts;
it’s the result of the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
People get all messed up when we try to “perform” for God!
Only God can produce godly fruit in us.
We must stop trying to do it ourselves, and trust Him to produce His fruit in us.